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FANFICTION

THE RISE OF LOKI, GOD OF MISCHIEF

CHAPTER XIII : Utgard

[Loki is sent to spy on Jotunheim to find out the truth about the threat of war against the Mountain Giants. Teaming up with a seiðr user, Eisa, she tells him something has been following him since his arrival in Jotunheim. They use the Crossway and a magical item that can guide them to reach Utgard, but they land separately in a labyrinth of fears and illusions. Unprotected, Loki faces his worst fears, deepest wounds and memories, tempted to fall into a raging revenge before being brought back by Eisa. Still haunted by his experience in the labyrinth, he realizes that he might care more about Eisa than he initially thought.]

Loki looked up but didn't see Eisa. He looked around, but the only thing he could see was the tree under which his clothes were drying, laid on rocks under the warm sunlight. He looked around once again, unable to see the girl, and frowned.

As they were making their way down the mountain, once arrived in the valley, they found a river and a bend in it partly hidden behind rocks. They couldn't help themselves and went there with the intention of solely drinking fresh water and washing their faces, but after fighting a dragon (who didn't have fresh breath at all), the wandering in the Crossway, the dust and sweat that covered them and Loki's emotional trauma; they decided to bathe. Plus, he was a Prince used to bathing every day. He could bear being sticky for a few days, but too much was too much and he needed all of his strength and well-being for Utgard.

They had decided that while Loki's clothes dried, he would bathe in the river while Eisa kept an eye on the surroundings. When he was done bathing and dressed, the girl would take her turn in the river (Loki definitely didn't plan on being as pure as her when she'd take off her clothes) but now, she was gone, and he didn't like that.

He ignored the beating of his heart that resonated in his ears as he advanced towards the bank, looking around. Still dripping, he got out of the river, ignoring that his underwear stuck against his skin as he looked around.

"Eisa?" He called, frowning.

He didn't like the idea of her away from him; he would much prefer to have her by his side. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she saved me and that I hold onto her like a light in the darkness, he thought to himself, clicking his tongue in annoyounce.

"Since when am I so pathetic around a woman…?" He muttered to himself before walking a little further from the tree, looking for the seiðr user.

Loki froze when he walked behind a stony wall, seeing Eisa's boots on the ground. Further away her clothes lay on the dusty ground. He looked up and his mouth fell open, his heart suddenly bursting into flames at the vision in front of him.

Eisa was in the river, back to him, bathing and brushing her long auburn hair with her fingers. Water reached her waist, giving him a view on her back, tempting enough to throw him off-balance but definitely not bare enough to his taste. She was covered in bruises and scratches, but she appeared to him like the most tempting creature he'd ever seen.

Hearing some sounds behind her, Eisa looked over her shoulder and blushed madly upon seeing an almost completely naked Loki observing her. She gasped and turned away, covering her breasts with her arms.

"Loki!" She exclaimed; she tried to make her voice reproachful but it was closer to a squeal. "S-stop looking!" She exclaimed when she realized he wasn't moving – he didn't intend to.

"Why? I've already seen women before," He said with a shrug, trying to ignore the fact that no matter how many beauties he had met, none captured the charm Eisa possessed.

She turned her head to glare at him but he ignored her and approached the water.

"W-what are you doing?" She asked, her voice barely higher than a whisper, her whole body turning red from embarrassment.

"Joining you, obviously. I would rather enjoy a bathe together than staying away from each other. It's safer this way." He explained with a huge grin.

She stared at him with a hard gaze. Even if his explanation made sense, they both knew he was joining her for other reasons. The amused gleam in his eyes and proud smile made his true intentions explicit, even if his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Loki was feeling better after walking under the sunlight and being away from the Crossway and they had both decided to ignore what had happened in there – for the moment.

She rolled her eyes when he approached her with his silly grin but she couldn't help herself and smiled back.

"How shocking that a Prince of Asgard would share the same water as a low subject." She mocked with a light voice.

"Seeing you like that, I can't think of you as a 'low subject'." He replied, lifting up a hand to brush her bare shoulder.

Eisa shivered at the contact but stayed still; they both felt the electricity that ran through their entire bodies at this simple touch. Still turning her back from him and keeping her arms around her bust protectively, she tried to ignore the Prince as he slowly leaned down towards her, his fingers barely brushing her and his breath, unusually fresh hitting her neck. He observed her reactions closely, amused by her stubbornness. He approached his lips to her ear, talking in a voice so low that it vibrated against her skin through her entire body.

"You appear to me brighter and more majestic than a Queen…" He whispered before biting the lobe of her ear lightly.

She yelped and jumped a little, looking up at him with big, shining green eyes. Loki felt his heart melt as she stared up at him, unable to break the eye contact.

"Y-your clothes and… and… we… should take turns in… bathing to keep an eye… an eye on…" She stammered in a breathless voice.

"Should I remind you that you left first to bathe on your own? Without telling me, without inviting me? That's very rude…" He answered, feigning hurt.

Eisa's chest was heaving up and down and she forced herself to turn away from him, no matter how hard her heart was beating against her chest and no matter how flushed she was.

"I-I'm sorry… The water was too tempting…" She murmured, trying to look as far away from his eyes as possible.

Loki put his hands on her shoulders, pressing his fingers into the skin to make her stop breathing, the pressure just enough to show his dominance over her body. He leaned down and breathed in her smell. She smelled of sweat and dust; the fresh water hadn't cleaned her upper body yet when he had appeared behind her, but there was a slight scent of flowers. He didn't recognize it, but it was familiar and sweet.

His lips kissed the skin where her shoulder met her neck and she sighed despite herself. He kissed her higher, on her neck and she instinctively turned her head to give him more space. Taking it as the invitation he was craving, Loki wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, slowly making his way towards her face.

"L-Loki…" She breathed, her voice making his blood pulse hotter in his veins.

He kissed her behind the ear, then her jaw, and her cheek as she put her hands on his, her fingers digging into his skin. He brought her closer against his torso, their bodies moulded together perfectly.

"W-we should focus on.. on…" She tried to say.

But his lips reached the corner of her lips and their eyes met, watery green against emerald green. He leaned forward and she started to close her eyes to welcome the kiss before suddenly turning around, stepping away and putting her hands on his torso to keep him at bay.

He stared at her in disbelief while she struggled to form words, her lips trembling and her cheeks burning more than ever.

"I-I…" She started.

He froze and frowned, glaring at her with a cold gaze that it sent shivers down her spine – but this time, it wasn't out of pleasure.

"Do you not want me to kiss you? Is my touch so repulsive to you?" He asked in a hard voice.

"N-no.."

"Should I remind you that we kissed already? If I recall correctly, you quite enjoyed it. If my touch is so repulsive to you," he continued, ignoring her stammers, "You should have stopped me at the beginning instead of flirting with me and letting me hold you and kiss you as if you were giving me a chance—"

"Loki—"

"I don't understand why you wouldn't let me kiss you another time, and I—"

He was stopped suddenly when she grabbed his face and pulled him down to her, their lips crashing against one another. Loki opened wide eyes, his body frozen for a short moment before moaning and pulling her body against him, keeping her close as he answered to her kiss wildly. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kept her against him, her breasts pressing against his torso. Their bodies were so hot it was a miracle that the water against them wasn't turning into steam.

Eisa groaned, driving him deeper into waves of pleasure from their intense kiss as he pushed her towards the bank. He grabbed her thighs and lifted her up so that she sat on a rock before starting to kiss, lick and bite her neck, her nails digging into his back. His hands stroked her thighs and he was pressing his body against hers once again when she opened her eyes and put her hands on his shoulders to stop him.

"W-wait—"

"No." He said firmly between kisses; he bit her before blowing on the sensible skin.

"Aah… W-wait, L-Loki…"

It took all of her willpower and strength to give a little push on his shoulders that pushed him away just long enough to look into his eyes.

"Wait, Loki." She said despite her trembling voice.

"What?" He grumbled annoyounce, fury and lust flashing in his eyes.

"W-we can't, not now, not here." She said, pushing him a little further.

"Why not?" He asked with the same annoyed tone.

Eisa threw him an exasperated look and sighed before running a hand through her hair, ignoring the way his eyes lowered to her breasts.

"Because you have a mission to accomplish and I can't become weak now! We're at the doors of Utgard, we can't take the risk of being discovered – and especially not in such a position!"

She stared at him with determined eyes and he snorted before glancing at the city of stone up in the mountains. He took a step away and sighed deeply, putting a hand through his messy black hair before looking back at her with an exasperated look.

"Don't think I'm going to let you get away so easily. As soon as we're back in Asgard, we—"

Loki trailed off as Eisa stared at him. He frowned to himself, not knowing what he had been about to say. She smiled sadly and took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Loki… You're a Prince… Even with your powers, there.. is no 'we'." She whispered, her voice breaking more than she wanted to.

He stared back at her, realizing finally why his heart suddenly ached and why he had stopped without finishing his sentence. Eisa wasn't noble, and her family was accused of treason. He was a Prince, there was no possibility for them to have anything or be anything. Not together at least.

"I'll…" He started, but he was unable to find any word.

Eisa put her hand on his cheek brushed his cheekbone with her thumb as she smiled almost tenderly at him.

"That's why.. that's why I should have stopped you…"

"You kissed me." He mumbled.

She let out a little laugh that made his heart light up and he swallowed.

"And it was the most intense and passionate moment of my life…" She answered with a smile.

Loki wanted to reply but was unable to. The realization that he had forgotten that he was a Prince and she, a low blood, now weighted on his shoulders, though he didn't even know why. Why would he be so weak around a woman? Why did he keep on acting so strangely around Eisa? He didn't even recognize himself.

"Loki—I will trust you with this mission."

Loki clenched his teeth upon hearing his father's voice. He felt the cold feeling that hit his heart harder than any blow could ever hope to hurt him, but he ignored it. He focused instead of his goal to make his father and family proud, to save them and accomplish this mission. He had to. He had to prove to everyone that he was a worthy son of Odin – just like his bright brother while the second son remained in the shadows.

But Loki didn't know what to feel anymore, what his heart was beating for: was it out of determination to accomplish this mission? Or was it with this cold feeling filled with jealousy, rage and distress that kept haunting him?

"We should start getting dressed, our clothes must be dry by now…" Eisa said, getting out of the water and putting her clothes back on once again.

Her voice brought Loki back to reality and he sighed, lifting himself up onto the bank before going back to the tree to get dressed.

He might not know what to feel about anything, especially not about Eisa but she was right about one thing: they had to focus on their mission and Utgard.

"Are you ready?" He finally asked once he was fully dressed once again.

She turned towards him with a smile and nodded, finishing braiding her long hair before advancing towards him. She looked up and down at his clothes and pouted a little.

"I prefer what I saw earlier…" She murmured in a slightly mocking tone.

Eisa laughed and Loki couldn't help but smirk back, the mischievous light in his eyes shining once again even if determination was the main emotion on his face.

"Let's go." He said in a firm voice.

A few hours later, they had climbed to the edge of the city, trying to appear as normal as possible as the Mountain Giants were starting to show themselves. They were completely different from Frost Giants and actually looked like any Asgardian.

"I would have expected them to be more.. stony…" Eisa whispered in Loki's ear after passing by several Giants.

"They live in the mountains, but the climate is quite close to the one that of Asgard. Their bodies and metabolism are close to ours, just bigger and stronger." He explained, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

Loki felt relieved to realize the men weren't much taller than him or Thor, and that the women were only a little bigger than Eisa. He still threw an illusion over their features, faces and clothes to fit the usual Mountain Giants' proper outfit. The arms and shoulders of the Mountain Giants, men or women, were incredibly muscular, considering that they were working on mountains' stone and rocks all the time. Their legs were strong too, from constantly climbing and walking to such a city.

Utgard's habitations began in the valley with the peasants and farmers who worked in the fields by the river – but most of their food came from commerce with different cities in Jotunheim. As soon as the mountain started, the path started climbing and a few houses appeared. All the streets were sloping and crossing with one another, creating a real maze of houses, streets and shops all made from the rock of the mountain itself. All above it was the huge fortress of Utgard where the King of Mountain Giants, Fornjótr, lived.

"Where should we start?" Eisa asked in a low voice.

"Shush, don't say a thing. Follow me and obey me." Loki ordered without glancing at her, keeping his eyes on the surroundings.

She stared at him but didn't say anything, keeping her silence as they slowly made their way to the heart of the city where most inhabitants were and the commerce was buzzling. If some people glanced at them, they didn't stare or look suspicious of the visitors in their city. Loki and Eisa saw a huge banner hooked between two buildings as they arrived in the centre of the town.

"I don't know the Mountain Giants' language. What is it saying?" Eisa asked.

"It's market day," he answered, reading what was written on the banner, "'Today, on the fifteenth day of the fifth month of the three hundred and forty seventh year of King Fornjótr's reign, takes place the annual Great Market.' It reunites all of the Jotunn merchants who travelled here."

With his knowledge of the Mountain Giants' calendar and the Asgardian one, Loki quickly counted the days he had been away from his home.

"Five days." He suddenly said, swallowing.

"Five days?" Eisa inquired.

"We've been in the Crossway for five entire days. Which means I only have three days to get the information and go back to Asgard." He murmured darkly, frowning at the turn of events. "We have to hurry."

"What do we do?" She asked again, sounding impatient.

"Just like I said, you just obey me and stay silent." He said, offering her his arm.

Eisa hesitated only a moment before grabbing it, realizing that they would appear as a rich Mountain Giants couple visiting Utgard for the Great Market.

As soon as they got closer, Loki and Eisa sensed that it was an important day of commerce for Jotunns and Utgard. On the biggest plaza were aligned numerous stalls with various products, from food to jewellery, clothes and spices.

Loki knew that there were usually some Asgardian merchants sent by the Palace's cooks to buy some rare spices, but with the war at stake, there probably wouldn't be any – except for him and Eisa, who were disguised.

Many Giants – Mountain and Storm mainly, but he saw some blue skinned Frost Giants far away and decided to stay away from them – were here, but Loki recognized some other people from other worlds such as dwarves and elves. No Vanir – probably because Vanaheim was Asgard's closest ally.

"Who wants some fish? Just fished from the uphill of the river this morning!" One of the merchants exclaimed joyfully, showing the fish at his stall.

Loki only smiled politely at him, as he continued to walk slowly through the middle of the happy crowd.

"What a bad day to come to Utgard, right when there is such a market…" Eisa grumbled after being hit by someone, "We'll never reach the fortress like that…"

"What are you talking about? It's the best day we could have hoped to come," Loki answered with a satisfied smile.

She threw him a questioning look and he answered, keeping his voice low:

"It offers us so many opportunities. And we can get information much more easily, without attracting too much attention."

He noticed a Mountain Giant who was probably part of the nobility or at least, a very rich merchant considering his clothes, walking right towards him, talking absentmindedly to another Giant on his right.

Loki turned his head towards Eisa, as if in a deep conversation with her:

"Act natural and look at the jewellery stall." He ordered in a low voice, not smiling.

"Why would I—"

Her voice was cut when he pinched the skin of her forearm. She barely managed to keep her shocked gasp contained but turned her head towards the next stall they walked by. Right at this moment, Loki hit the Giant and quickly turned towards him.

"My apologies," he said very courteously.

The Giant smiled back and gave a little nod while the two parted ways.

Eisa glanced at the Asgardian Prince, trying to figure out what he was playing at, but he only smiled at her in the nicest way possible – which disturbed her even more. He kept on looking at stalls, slowing down and even stopping at times, smiling and natural, fading completely to the role of mountain giant with his natural smile.

Loki finally stopped in the very middle of the plaza at a stall selling jewellery.

"My dear, what do you think of this hair stick?" He asked, gesturing to one displayed on the stall.

It took Eisa a moment to realize he was talking to her and she jumped, ignoring the deadly gaze he threw at her for what could have been a mistake. She leaned towards the long golden hair stick with intricate rubies on top.

"It's lovely," she answered, trying to ignore the mad beating of her heart as Loki's words kept rolling in her head. 'My dear' he had called her.

"A beautiful hair accessory for a beautiful lady," the merchant said, smiling at the couple. "It's a masterpiece in hair accessory, truly; the Vanaheim style is very famous recently, very appreciated and the artwork is from Niðavellir. The best dwarves made this jewel."

"The best dwarves?" Loki continued, sounding impressed.

"Youy, the brothers Brokkr and Sindri. This masterpiece isn't as expensive as it should be, really! It would only make your lady even more beautiful than she already is!"

"Indeed a beautiful lady," Loki agreed, throwing a smile at a very blushing Eisa. "I'll take it." He decided suddenly, turning back to the grinning merchant.

Eisa frowned at him but her mouth fell open when he took out a purse filled with golden coins which were definitely not an illusion. He bought the hair stick and then took a moment to pin it in her hair, lifting up her braid in a complicated bun through which the hair stick now stood. Of course, to everyone else, he had just added jewellery to the already pretty hairstyle she was wearing. No one could guess otherwise, only Loki and Eisa knew the truth behind their appearances.

Loki's eyes locked with Eisa's for a moment, admiring his work before he gave her a smile she couldn't understand and turned back towards the merchant.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Magnificent, sir," the merchant answered with a huge grin after selling such a masterpiece.

"Where are you from if I may ask?" Loki asked, continuing the conversation. He was using all of his charm and skills against the merchant who smiled, happy to converse with a good customer.

"I'm from the north of Jotunheim. Most of what I sell is dwarf's handiwork."

"Yes, I believe there is a pathway between Jotunheim and Niðavellir in the north, right?" Loki questioned, sounding innocently curious.

"Indeed, sir, you are very knowledgeable, sir!"

"Busy day. It must be exhausting for you, after this entire journey to come here…" He said.

"Arf, this is my job, sir! And, if I may say so, this year isn't a good year at all…" She said, throwing a glance around the crowd and pouting.

"Really?" Eisa asked, trying to not let Loki do all the work.

"Yay, with this war coming, many of our usual customers didn't come…"

"The war?" Loki repeated, leaning forward, "Really? I only heard rumours of it, but.. I'm not from around here and I thought it was just hearsay…"

"Not hearsay at all, sir, the war is very serious," the merchant answered, shaking her head and frowning at the idea of a war ruining her business, "I don't know the details, but I've heard from another merchant who lives here, in Utgard, that he heard some guards talking at the tavern. King Fornjótr has sent spies to Asgard! To Asgard, yay!" She exclaimed with a voice as low as possible.

"Asgard? How so?" Eisa continued, faking shock.

"Yay, Asgard, all the way to the Queen's chambers!"

"No!" The lady gasped.

It sounded naïve enough but Loki felt Eisa's nails digging into his forearm; at the very idea that her mother, who was a Queen's maid, would have been a spy, made her tremble. Eisa had mentioned her mother being manipulated and used by some outside force, which is why she had decided to come. But apparently, on the Mountain Giants' side, they have heard about spies.

Loki didn't react, not wanting to think about Eisa's mother truly being a spy. Mostly, however, he didn't want to think about the consequences for the seiðr user if it turned out to be true…

"Yay, the Queen's chambers. I don't know why the King would want a war against Asgard, but because of this tension, no Asgardian nor Vanir customers this year. And many dwarves and elves decided to stay away from a possible battlefield. Truly, this year is a very bad year for us…" She finished, sighing and glancing once again at the crowd with a pitiful look.

"Do you know why the King would do such a thing?" Loki asked, hoping to gain more information.

"Nay. But some say it's revenge, but I know nothing more about his reasons. But, I heard other rumours about the fortress, y'know…"

"The fortress?" Loki repeated, his mind paying full attention.

"Youy, some noblemen serving the King have started to come these last few days, from all over Jotunheim! They are preparing for battle; some must even be arriving today! I do hope one of those noblemen will come by our Market, we might sell a bit more…"

"He's arriving today, really?" Loki continued.

"Youy, with all of his troops and maidens, it'll be impressive. Those noblemen are always impressive, aren't they?"

"They are, indeed…" He murmured, absentmindedly.

The merchant smiled at him but another customer stopped by her stall and she turned her attention to the new arrival.

"Thank you very much," Loki said to the merchant.

"Very welcome, sir!" She exclaimed with a broad smile.

He and Eisa started to walk away from the stall, slowly making their way through the crowd.

Loki glanced at her, opening his mouth to talk, but saw that her head was hanging low, eyes filled with terror and sadness. He hesitated, not knowing what to say. She had just heard that her mother was considered a spy here as well as in Asgard. Before he could say a thing, however, Eisa lifted her head and mustered all of her courage to look strong. She turned towards him, acting as natural as possible – but the fear in her eyes didn't go unnoticed.

"Where did that purse come from?" She asked, frowning at the memory of the purse he got out of his pocket to buy the hair stick.

He hesitated slightly before deciding to act as normal as she was doing.

"The Giant I hit earlier," he answered with a smile.

Eisa recalled the rich man from earlier Loki had hit by 'accident'. He had stolen the purse from him so quickly and efficiently that no one had noticed.

"You clever little thief…" She whispered with an amazed smile.

"Of course I am, I am Loki." He answered with a self-satisfied smile.

"You know that you paid for a hair stick that is most probably not dwarf's handiwork, though?" She asked.

"Oh, it is," he replied while she frowned, "Do you think I wouldn't recognize a dwarf's work? Most of my mother's jewellery is dwarf-made. This merchant might be a fool, but she is not a liar. And thanks to her, I have a plan to infiltrate Utgard's fortress."

"Did you not learn enough? I thought you only needed to find out if Fornjótr wanted the war or not, you know he does now." Eisa said with a trembling voice, confused.

"I still don't know about my mother's maids' betrayal: if it was their own will and they were really spies or not. Plus, it won't be enough for the All Father, I need to find out why Fornjótr wants war." He said seriously, jaw clenched.

"The merchant mentioned revenge, any idea what it could mean?" She asked, secretly thankful for the fact he was still trying to find out the truth about her mother.

Loki's lips pursed in a thin line and he shook his head slightly, not willing to admit his lack of knowledge. He had no idea what kind of revenge King Fornjótr would seek against Asgard. He was a young King who had only been on the throne for only three centuries and many had accused him of being too weak; perhaps he just wanted to try to prove himself worthy of his title.

Loki swallowed, frowning at himself as his heart clenched tightly in his chest. Even if Fornjótr wanted to prove himself worthy, it wasn't a reason to go at war and put his people in danger; it was reckless, dangerous and idiotic.

"I shall make you proud father!"

Loki wanted to prove himself worthy too, but he was different from this King. Right?

"Loki?"

He looked back at Eisa and realized she had called to him several times and was staring at him worriedly. He quickly looked away, not wanting her to understand that his time in the labyrinth was still haunting him – just like this cold feeling in his heart.

"Let's go spy on King Fornjótr," he said. His voice sounded confident, but his gaze was distant and worried.

A quiet chapter without much happening but I wanted you to discover Utgard and to show more of Loki's true nature and skills; all in charms, illusions, tricks and thievery. :3

NEXT CHAPTER: INFILTRATION

Tell me what you think! :D

Yours Truly,

May